Material-handling apparatus



May 10, 1955 A. M CALLUM MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets$heet 1 Filed June 19, 1951 m N Z M: M r U In P 4,. w

ATTORNEY y 10, 1955 A.'MGCALLUM MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1951 INVENTOR.

m a, 0 W% M r A A TTOR/VEY May 10, 1955 A. MCCALLUM 2 MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1951 '3 Sheets-Sheet s INVEN TOR.

A T TOXP/VE'Y United States Patent MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS Arthur McCallum, Highland Park, N. J., assignor to Flake Products Corporation, New Brunswick, N. J., a corporationot New Jersey Application June 19, 19.51, Serial No. 232,280

8 Claims. (Cl. 214-300) The present invention relates to apparatus for handling meltable, solid or semi-solid material, for example lard, that is received from the supplier in barrels or drums. The terms barrels and drums are used in a generic sense to include casks, kegs, buckets, hogs'heads, and other containers used for shipping and storing materials of the 'kind indicated.

Shortening materials, herein referred to as lard, are customarily shipped from the manufacturer to users such as bakeries and food product manufacturers in steel drums which are about three feet long and two feet in diameter and which weigh several hundred pounds. One end of the drum is removable, being held in place by a leveroperated clamping ring. The removal of the material from the drum presents a difiicult problem. It has heretofore been customary to dig the lard out with a shovel. However, this is a laborious and messy operation. Moreover, with this method, there is a considerable waste of material since the lard adheres to the sides and bottom of the drum and is difficult to remove.

It is an object of the present invention to remove meltable materials such as lard from barrels or drums in a quick and labor-saving manner and to effect substantially complete removal of the material from the drum so that there is virtually no waste. In accordance with the present invention, the material comes out of the drum completely and the inside surface of the drum appears clean and polished as if it had been rubbed with an oily cloth.

In accordance with the invention, the drum or other container is held in an inclined position above a receptacle that is to receive the material with the open end of the container lower than the opposite end and directed downwardly toward the receptacle. While in this position, the container is quickly heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the layer of material adjacent the walls of the container. The mass of the material is thereby freed from the walls and, because of the inclination of the container, the material slides out of the container and into the receptacle. Only the surface layer of the material is melted or softened and hence a relatively small amount of heat is required. The mass of the material remains in its original solid or semi-solid condition and its temperature is not appreciably raised.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus in accordance with the present invention in an initial position in its operation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a detail shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken approximately on the line 5-5 in Fig. l, with the drum removed.

Fig. 6 is a partial end elevation taken from the right hand end of the machine asshown in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken approximately on the line 77 in Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation with the .machine in a subsequent operative position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a safety clamp. ing device for holding the drum.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end elevation taken from the right hand end of Fig. 9. I

The machine shown by way of example in the drawings is intended for emptying lard or other meltable solid material from a steel drum or other container 1' and for subsequently handling the material emptied from the container. The expression meltable solid materia is herein used to include solid, semisolid, or semi-liquid material that can be melted or softened by increasing its temperature. As shown in the drawing, the machine comprises a receptacle 2 (Fig. 1) having substantially vertical side walls 3 (Fig. 7) and an approximately semi-circular bottom Wall 4, the diameter of which is somewhat greater than that of the container 1. At the right hand end of the receptacle 2, as viewed .in Figs. '1 and 4, there is a substantially vertical end wall 5 thelower portion of which is apertured to provide a discharge opening from which a discharge spout 6 projects. A conveyor screw 7 extends lengthwise along the bottom of the receptacle, being rotatably supported at one end by a radial and thrust bearing 8 and at the other end by a radial bearing 9 which is located inside the discharge spout 6, being supported by a narrow bracket 10 (Figs. 1 and 6) that extends down from the pper inside surface of the spout. The diameter of the conveyor screw 7 is considerably smaller than that of the semi-circular bottom wall 4 of the receptacle, being, for example, approximately to /2 as large in diameter. Theperiphery of the screw is substantially in contact with the bottom wall 4 of the receptacle although actual rubbing is preferably avoided. It will be seen that the screw extends a substantial distance into the discharge spout 6 the diameter of which is approximately equal to that of 'the screw, being only sufficiently larger to permit the screw to turn; freely. The screw is driven through a chain 11 by a motor 12 controlled by a switch 13 located adjacent the discharge spout 6. The direction of rotation of the screw is such as to move the material in the receptacle toward and out through the discharge spout 6 in the form of .a continuous cylindrical extrusion. A curved hood 14 provided above the right hand end of the receptacle prevents any material from being crowded At the end of the receptacle 2, opposite the discharge end, there is provided a trough or chute 16 which is curved in cross-section and inclined downwardly into the receptacle in a lengthwise direction. The chute 16 may be formed integrally as an end wall of the receptacle or may be a separate member. The outer end of the chute 16 is supported by a framework structure 17.

The drum 1 that is to be emptied is supported in an inclined position above the chute 16 rality of inclined rails or bars 18-three such bars being shown in the drawing. The bars 18 are supported attheir opposite ends by the framework structure 17 and are connected with one another by cross braces 19. Theinclination of the bars 18 is preferably approximately the It has been found that;

same as that of the chute 16. the angle of inclination to the horizontal should be be tween thirty and sixty degrees.

shown in the drawings, the angle of Near their lower ends, the bars 18 semi-circular drum holders or rings 20 which are spaced up over the end wall 5.,

by means of a plu-.

In the embodiment. inclination is 37% carry two transverse.-

from the end of the chute 16 and from one another so as to fit below the annular ribs 21 with which steel drums are customarily provided when the drum is in the position shown in Fig. l. The arcuate rings 20 lie in planes approximately perpendicular to the bars 18 and hold the drum 1 in an inclined position while, at the same timeby engagement with the ribs 21they prevent the drum from slipping downwardly. The arcuate rings 20 are adjustable along the bars 18 in order to accommodate different sizes and types of containers. In addition to the arcuate rings 20, an anti-tilt plate 22 having an upper edge of arcuate form is provided under the lower end of the drum to assure that the drum does not tip on the supports 20. As a further safety measure, the drum is also held by a clamping device shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 10. This device comprises a lever action locking clamp 23 having serrated jaws 24 which-upon operation of the clamptightly grip the chime 25 at the left hand end of the drum, as viewed in Fig. l. A hook 26 on the clamp 23 hooks around and under one of the supporting bars 18 just above a cross brace 19. The drum is thereby further secured both against tipping and against slipping downwardly on the supports. The drum 1 is initially placed on the supporting rings 20 by means of a hoist 27 which is attached to the drum by means of chains 28 and hooks 29. The chains 28 are of unequal length, so that, when the drum is lowered into position by the hoist, it is already inclined at approximately the correct angle. After the drum 1 has been placed on the support and the safety clamp 23 has been applied, the hooks 29 are removed and the chains 28 are lifted up out of the way by the hoist. Between successive operations, the clamping device 23 is pref erably kept on a hook 30 provided for that purpose.

While the drum is held in an inclined position on the supports 20, with its open end directed downwardly toward the chute 16 and receptacle 2, the walls of the container are heated to a temperature sutficient to melt the adjacent layer of material and thereby free the material from the drum so that it can slide out of the drum down the chute 16 and into the receptacle 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the means for heating the drum comprises a movable cage 33. The cage 33 is supported by grooved wheels 34 which run on a pair of spaced rails 35 which are inverted V-shaped in cross-section. The track formed by the rails 35 is supported at its opposite ends, and also intermediate its ends, by the framework structure 17 and is inclined in a lengthwise direction, being parallel to the bars 18 that support the drum 1. The cage 33 is movable along the inclined rails 35 between an upper position (Fig. l) in which it is above and clear of the drum 1 held on the supports 20 and a lower position (Fig. 8) in which the cage surrounds, and is substantially concentric with, the container. Movement of the cage is effected by means of an electric hoist 36 having a cable 37 running over a stationary pulley 38 and a movable pulley 39, the other end of the cable being anchored at 40. The movable pulley 39 is attached, for example by a hook, to a cable 41 which runs over a pulley 42 rotatably supported at the upper end of the inclined track and is attached at 43 to the cage. The hoist 36 is reversible. In one direction of operation, it lowers the cage down the inclined track from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 8; in the opposite direction, it hauls the cage up to its initial position. The hoist is manually controlled by a push-button switch 44 and is also controlled by a limit switch 45 which limits the upward movement of the cage. No limit switch is required for the downward movement of the cage since the cables 37 and 41 are merely slackened if the hoist motor overruns in this direction. The position of the cage when lowered is de termined by its engagement with an abutment 46 on the framework structure. This abutment may be made adjustable if desired. When the cage is in its upper position, it is held against accidental release by the safety device shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This device comprises a block 48 having an arcuate surface 49 adapted to be engaged by one of the wheels 34 of the cage 33. The block 48 is pivotally secured to one of the rails 35 so as to swing about a pivot shaft 50 parallel to the rail. When the block 48 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 and in solid lines in Fig. 3, it is adapted to engage the adjacent wheel 34 of the cage so as to block the cage from running downwardly on the inclined track. When it is desired to lower the cage, the block 48 is swung about the pivot shaft 50 so as to lie alongside the rail 35, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, leaving the rail clear for the passage of the cage. As a further safety measure, it will be noted that the book 30 for holding the clamping device 23 when the latter is not in use overlies the switch 44 for controlling the hoist 36 by means of which the cage 33 is raised and lowered. This arrangement avoids the actuation of the switch 44 to lower the cage 33 until the safety clamp 23 has been removed from the hook 30 and clamped on the drum, as described above.

The cage 33 is essentially cylindrical, with its lower end open and its upper end substantially closed. The cage carries heating means for quickly heating the peripheral wall and end wall of the drum 1 while it is held in an inclined position on the supports 20. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the heating means comprises a plurality of incandescent infra-red lamps 51 having self-contained reflectors. There are twelve rows of lamps arranged around the inner periphery of the cage 33 with six lamps in each row. The lamps are all directed radially inwardly toward the center of the cage.

The sockets and wiring connections for these lamps are enclosed in channels 52 which extend along the sides of the cage and have removable covers. There are also a plurality of lampseight being shown-provided on the upper closed end of the cage 33, these lamps being directed axially inwardly towards the inside of the cage. The wiring of all of the lamps is led to a junction box 53 from which a flexible cable 54 leads to a suitable power source, the supply of electric current to the lamps being controlled through a relay by means of a push-button switch 55 (Fig. 8) located adjacent the switch 44 con-' trolling movement of the cage.

When the cage 33 is in its lower position (Fig. 8) and the lamps 51 are turned on, intense infra-red radiation is simultaneously directed on all walls of the drum 1 so as to bring the walls quickly to a sufficiently high temperature to melt the adjacent layer of the material in the drum. This heating effect is uniformly distributed over the drum. in this connection, it will be noted that the drum-supporting rings 20 are formed of relatively small diameter round stock and that the supporting bars 18 are flat and have their flat sides disposed approximately perpendicular to the wall of the drum, i. c. radial to the drum and to the cage 33, so that the drum support does not block off an appreciable amount of radiation. It will be further noted that the supporting bars 18 extend completely through the cage 33, an arcuate opening 56 being provided in the end wall of the cage for this purpose. By having the bars 18 extend through the cage and by supporting them at each end, it is possible to use relatively light bars that do not block off the radiation of the lamps from the drum. The cage 33 preferably has double walls with a space between, to provide a light construction having good heat-insulating characteristics.

The operation of the machine will be readily under stood from the foregoing description. The drum of material to be emptied is brought into an area adjacent the machine by a barrel truck or other means and is cleaned to remove any loose particles of dirt or other material from the exterior of the drum. The drum is then lifted by the hoist 27 which preferably has two-way travel and is positioned on the drum support 20, as shown in Fig. l, the cage 33 being in its upper position. The drum is avoaoee secured in position by the safety clamp 23 and the hoist, together with chains 28, is disconnected from the drum and swung out of the way. The cover of the drum is removed. The safety block l, 2 and 3) is then swung over to its inoperative position and the hoist 35 is actuated by means of the switch 4 to lower the cage 33 into a position in which it surrounds, and is substantially concentric with, the drum 1. The lamps 51 in the cage 3.3 are then turned on simultaneously by means of the switch 55. The Walls of the drum, including both the peripheral wall and the end wall, are quickly and uni fortnly heated to a temperature sufficient to meit the adjacent layer of lard or other material. The mass of material is thereby freed from adherence to the drum and slides out of the drum and down the chute 16 into the receptacle 2. The anti-tilt plate 22 and the safety clamp 23 prevent the drum 1 from tipping as the mass of material slides out of the container and thereby changes the center of gravity. The lamps are then turned off, the cage is raised to its upper position and the empty drum is removed. After the contents of one or more drums have been emptied into the receptacle 2, the conveyor screw '7 is operated to move the material toward the discharge end of the receptacle and force it out through the discharge spout 6, the material being discharged into a suitable bucket, vat or other vessel, as desired, or being carried to the point of use by a suitable conveyor system. The operation of the conveyor screw 7 under control of the switch 13 located adjacent the discharge spout facilitates dispensing the material in predetermined amounts, as desired.

It will be seen that the machine in accordance with the present invention makes it possible to empty drums or containers of lard, or other meltable material, quickly and easily with a minimum amount of labor and to dispense the material emptied from the drums in accordance with the requirements of the particular manufacturing or other process in which the material is to be used.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for handling meltable material sup plied in a container having an opening at one end, a receptacle, supporting means for holding the container in a position above the receptacle with the opening in the container directed downwardly toward the receptacle, a cage movable from a position in which it surrounds the container while held in said position by the supporting means and a position in which it is clear of the container, means for moving the cage from one position to the other and a plurality of incandescent heat lamps carried by the cage and directedinwardly to heat the walls of the co=rtainer when the cage is in the first mentioned position to melt the layer of material adjacent the container walls and thereby free the material from the container.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the lamps re arranged to heat the side walls of the container throughout the periphery thereof and also the end wall opposite to said opening.

3. In apparatus for handling meltable material supplied in a container having an opening at one end thereof, a receptacle, supporting means for the container compri ing a plurality of bars inclined upwardly from the rece tacle and means for positioning the container on said bars with the longitudinal axis of the container approximately parallel to the bars and the open end of the container lower than the opposite end and directed downwardly toward the receptacle, a track approximately parallel to the bars, a cage movable along the track from a position in which the cage surrounds the container held on the supporting means and a position in which it is clear of the container, means for moving the cage from one position to the other and means carried by the cage for heating the container when the cage is in the first mentioned position to melt the layer of material adjacent the walls of the container and thereby free the material from the container.

lil

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the bars supporting the container extend through the cage and are supported at their opposite ends.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the bars supporting the container are fiat and are disposed with their fiat sides approximately perpendicular to the ad jacent wall of the container.

6. In apparatus for handling meltable material supplied in a cylindrical container having an opening at one end thereof, a receptacle, supporting means for holding the container above the receptacle with its longitudinal axis inclined to the horizontal and with its open end lower and directed toward the receptacle, an inclined track approximately parallel to the axis of the container held by said supporting means, a cage movable along the track between a lower position in which the cage surrounds the container and a high position axially displaced from the container, a hoist for moving the cage upwardly along said track from the lower to the higher position and for lowering the cage from the higher to the lower position, a stop for positioning the cage in its lower position and means carried by the cage for heating the container when the cage is in its lower position to melt the layer of material adjacent the walls of the container and thereby free the material from the container.

7. In apparatus for handling meltable material supplied in a container having an opening at one end, a receptacle having a tubular discharge spout at one end, supporting means for holding the container above the opposite end of the receptacle with the longitudinal axis of the container inclined to the horizontal and with the open end of the container lower than the opposite end and directed downwardly toward the receptacle, means for heating the walls of the container from outside the container while held in said position to melt the adjacent layer of material, thereby freeing the mass of material from the container and permitting it to pass out of the inclined container and into the adjacent end of the receptacle, a conveyor screw extending lengthwise of the receptacle and into the discharge spout, a bearing in the discharge spout for rotatably supporting the adjacent end of the screw, a bearing rotatably supporting the opposite end of the screw, and means for driving the screw to move the material lengthwise of the receptacle to, and out through, the discharge spout.

8. In apparatus for handling meltable material supplied in a cylindrical container having an opening at one end thereof, a receptacle, supporting means for holding the container above the receptacle with its longitudinal axis inclined to the horizontal and with its open end lower and directed toward the receptacle, a movable cage, means for guiding said cage to move along an inclined path parallel to the axis of the container held by said supporting means, said cage being movable along said path between a position in which the cage surrounds the container and a position axially displaced from the container, means for moving the cage from one position to the other and means carried by the cage for heating the container when the cage is in its first mentioned position to melt the layer of material adjacent the walls of the container and thereby free the material from the container, permitting it to slide out of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,443,329 Weigert Jan. 23, 1923 1,583,643 Ball May 4, 1926 1,723,331 Cutter Aug. 6, 1929 1,831,832 Wise NOV. 17, 1931 1,887,120 Daly Nov. 8, 1932 1,960,456 Robb May 29, 1934 2,472,594 Kuehn June 7, 1949 

